Chapter Twenty-Nine: Family Relations
Summary: Twenty-ninth chapter. Twenty to go. That about sums it up.
The next few days past as normally as Sirius and Arabella could make it seem for Harry's sake. Sirius had sat Harry down and explained a few changes in the security routine now that it appeared Arabella was in every bit as much danger as Harry. Whenever possible Sirius wanted both of them in the main room of the mansion, which, with it's large chairs, comfy sofa, and television, wasn't too bad of a gilded cage.
By afternoon Sirius had rechecked all the doors and windows again as well as checked the perimeter protections around the house. Arabella had insisted on going with him at least for that, but Sirius had told her it was best for her to stick close to Harry, since, with his own ability far from up to speed, she was technically the only one in the house who could protect their godson.
Soon after lunch Sirius got up from his chair in the main room where he had been browsing over the Daily Prophet and leaned over the back of the chair where Arabella was sitting. Whispering a few words to her, he turned and left the room.
Harry turned to his godmother. "Where's Sirius going? Surely he isn't going to check the protection spells again?"
Arabella smiled reassuringly at her godson. "He said he was tired and he's just going upstairs to take a nap. That's all."
Satisfied with the answer, Harry turned back to his homework. But he simply couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness that held him, distracting him from the essay he was suppose to be working on. As hard as they were trying to keep things normal, Harry could feel the tension in the room almost as thought it were a physical thing. Over and over he kept telling himself what a fool he had been for saying anything to his godparents about the dream. It was a stupid dream. He had had them before. All of them didn't come true.
'But better safe than sorry,' a small voice in his head told him. 'Would you rather have had to tell Sirius about your dream after the Dark Lord captured Arabella? Isn't it better they be on guard?'
Harry sighed to himself. A sound that caused Arabella to look up from her book.
"Harry?" She asked. "What is it?"
"It's nothing." He said quietly. "Just thinking about my essay."
Arabella got up from her chair and sat next to him on the sofa. She always seemed to know when he wasn't telling her the truth.
But rather than getting a lecture about being truthful with her, Arabella simply reached up and gently brushed a bit of his hair back from his forehead.
"It's going to be all right, you know?" She said quietly.
"I know." Harry replied in a whisper. He sat for a long time staring absently at the parchment on the small table before him as Arabella gently stroked his hair. He loved the feel of her touch. He wondered if this was what it felt like to have your mother touch you. A touch that left him feeling as safe and protected as any spell or charm ever could.
Sitting back on the sofa, Harry leaned against his godmother as Arabella draped one slim arm about his shoulder and pulled him tightly to her.
"Don't worry, Harry." She whispered to him. "Sirius and I aren't going to let anything happen to you. Not now. Not ever."
Harry leaned closer to her, happily drowning himself in the affection of his godmother's reassurances. Nothing was more devastating to him at times than when he thought that this was what he had missed in his life for fifteen years. Not just his parents, but their love.
Parents. There was another foreign concept to him. One he had found himself thinking about more and more of late. He was almost eighteen. In a few years he wouldn't need parents anymore according to the laws. He'd be an adult in his own right. Harry started to wonder exactly where his relationship with Sirius was headed. Sirius had never mentioned adopting him directly to Harry. Maybe Sirius was content in his role of godfather, and the title 'father' just didn't suit him. In a few years it wasn't going to matter much anyhow. So why bother? And, of course, until his name was cleared...well...the point was pretty moot.
And what about Arabella? Had Sirius ever mentioned the possibility to her? She was his godmother. Had she ever entertained the idea herself of adopting him? What would Sirius do if she did? Would Sirius simply step aside? Would he go to live with Arabella then?
"You're very quiet." A voice prodded him out of his thoughts.
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
Harry wrinkled his brow as he thought about the question. What would Arabella say if he asked her about some of things that were on his mind.
"Arabella...?"
His godmother suddenly cut him off as she turned to him with a smile. "You know, Harry," She said solicitously, "you can call me ''Bella' if you want."
Harry turned to her with a shocked expression. "Oh no." He replied quickly. "I could never do that."
"Why not?"
"Well...because..." Harry couldn't quite stop a red tinge from coming to his face. "That's what Sirius calls you. I can't call you that."
Arabella smiled at her godson. She seemed able to read his thoughts. A silent form of understanding that was unique between them. Her smile grew into a soft laugh. "All right," She said. "Then what about something else? 'Arabella' just sounds so formal. What would you like to call me?"
Harry started to answer her question almost immediately, his earlier thoughts coming back to him, but he stopped himself suddenly.
Arabella looked curiously at him. "Harry?"
Harry looked back down at his unfinished essay. "Really," He said after a moment. "'Arabella' is just fine."
Arabella smiled again. The same unspoken understanding between them. "That's all right, Harry," She said softly. "You call me whatever you want."
Up in his room, Sirius lay on his bed, trying desperately to get to sleep. He simply couldn't risk falling asleep in Arabella's presence.